Louis Tomlinson’s debut single soars to No 1 of the UK iTunes chart following emotional X Factor performance for his late mum Johannah
LOUIS Tomlinson's debut solo single has soared to the top of the UK iTunes chart following his emotional X Factor performance on Saturday night.
The singer took to the stage to perform his new single, Just Hold On, with collaborator Steve Aoki, in honour of his late mum Johannah Deakin, who died earlier this week aged 43.
Now fans have rushed out to buy his single after the 24-year-old's heart-breaking tribute this weekend.
After hearing the news Steve tweeted: "Wow thank u. Number 1!!! (sic)" following by an emoji of the British flag.
The track, which is believed to includes lyrics about Louis's mum, has knocked his former One Direction bandmate Zayn Malik's song with Taylor Swift off the top spot.
Just Hold On is now No 1 in 29 countries on iTunes.
Louis took to Twitter following the performance saying it was the hardest thing he's ever had to do.
His 1D bandmates flew in to support him and after the show he joined his sister Lotttie, 18, and his pals at London club Cirque Le Soir.
"That was harder than I ever imagined," he said. "I want to thank everyone around me and all of the amazing fans out there that made that so special!
"Feeling so much love around me and my family. Mum would have been so f***ing proud (sorry for swearing mum) love you!
"Also @Steveaoki, you have been such a rock and inspiration throughout this! Pure talent and a real fent."
Louis sent a kiss up to his mum after his emotional performance on The X Factor.
As he finished his performance he looked up and sent a kiss up to his mum.
After his performance, Simon Cowell spoke to Louis and told him how proud his mum would be of him.
"Louis, I have to say something to you, what you've just done, and the bravery, I respect you as an artist and as a person.
"Your mum was so proud of you Louis. She was so looking forward to tonight and she's looking down on you."
Earlier today, Louis thanked fans for their support, writing on his Twitter: "All the support has been incredible! Let's do this together tonight."
Louis will pay touching tribute to his late mum with his first single which he will perform live on The X Factor tonight.
While the star hasn't officially confirmed that the song is about his mum Johannah, the lyrics have become a poignant tribute to her after it was announced she had passed away on Wednesday aged just 43.
The lyrics read: "Oh until it's all been said / It's not over until your dying breath / So what do you want them to say when you're gone? /That you gave up or that you kept going on?
"What do you do when a chapter ends? / Do you close the book and never read it again? / Where do you go when your story's done?
"You can be who you want or you'll become / If it all goes wrong / Darling just hold on"
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Louis and his family released a statement regarding Johannah's passing early Wednesday morning that read: “It is with immeasurable sadness that Johannah Deakin’s family said goodbye to Johannah in the early hours of Wednesday 7th December 2016.
“Earlier this year Johannah was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of leukaemia that required immediate and continuous treatment.
“We respectfully request that the family are given time and space to grieve in private.”
As well as Louis she leaves behind six other children, Lottie, 18, Felicite, 16, twins Daisy and Phoebe, both 12, and twins Ernest and Doris, both aged two, who she gave birth to prematurely in 2014.
She was also a grandmother to Louis’ first child Freddie, who his ex Briana Jungwirth gave birth to earlier this year.
Her husband Dan said in a statement: “I thoroughly loved walking through life with her, and though five years was far too short a time, during that time we had so many lifetimes worth of happiness, adventures, and memories.
“We would like to send our sincere thanks to Professor Steve Mackinnon and his team at University College London Hospital where Johannah was hospitalised since May.
“And during the last few weeks Professor John Snowden and his colleagues at Royal Hallamshire Hospital Sheffield.”
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